Engr. Dikko's Tenure As PHRC MD Was Transparent And Accountable - Alliance

 

The Integrity Youth Alliance has said that the listing of Engr. Ahmed Dikko in a report by Punch Newspaper is mischievous and an attempt to tarnish his transparent and meritorious service at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).

Reacting to the report in Punch Newspaper titled "$3bn refinery fraud: N80bn found in sacked MD’s bank accounts," the National Coordinator of the Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga, said that it was on record that Engr. Ahmed Dikko operated the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) under the Transparency, Accountability, and Performance Excellence Agenda.

"It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollar loan to rehabilitate the facility. The contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A., a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.

"Engr. Ahmed Dikko, as Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), has little to do with the contract award, as the Federal Government awarded the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, and it covers the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning (EPCIC) of the refinery.

"He had pushed the rehabilitation to over 65% completion before he was further given the responsibility to advise the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited on refinery rehabilitation.

"It is on record that Dikko's greatest goal and accomplishment was bringing back the nation’s refineries to life as soon as possible.

"One of Dikko's achievements is the completion and commissioning of the 60,000-barrel-old refinery in November last year, after over 25 years of non-operation. The refinery is still operational. Work on the new 150,000-barrel refinery is well advanced and nearly complete. The loan for the project was $1billion from Afrixem Bank

"His transparency and accountability as the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) earned him commendations, recognitions and awards.

"We therefore condemned listing his names among the officials the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating for abuse of office and misappropriation of funds, Adegbenga said.

Youth Alliance Educates One-Man, Onwubiko’s HURIWA, On IGP’s Tenure

The Integrity Youth Alliance, an organisation that has been monitoring development trends in the Nigerian Police Force for over 15 years, schooled the one-man NGO Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on the tenure of the Inspector General of Police.

Reacting to a publication titled “NIS: Tenure extensions on Tinubu’s watch favour only Yoruba; HURIWA alleges,” the publicity director of the Alliance, Danjuma Lamido, said it is unfortunate that ignorants like Emmanuel Onwubiko could refer to the tenured office of the Inspector General of Police as an extension.

“Despite his ignorance, he still says, “President Bola Tinubu pushed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 to the NASS to amend the Police Act of 2020. This was to enable Egbetokun to complete a full term of four years.”

“The same HURIWA said that the Public Service Rule 020810 declares a compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service to be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier, but forgot that the position of the Inspector General of Police is an appointment as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended): “There shall be— (a) an Inspector-General of Police who the President shall appoint subject to section 216(2) of this Constitution”.

“We wish to state that Egbetokun’s constitutional tenure did not create any internal schism. Also, there was nothing like a massive purge of many “so-called ambitious and activist senior police officers” by the hierarchy of the Nigeria police favoured by President Tinubu, as made believe by the one-man NGO, HURIWA.

“We recall that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has declared that the amendment of the Police Act by the National Assembly in 2024 was in order and no individual or organisation has gone to court to challenge that to date; not even the one-man NGO, HURIWA.

“On a final note, we wish to say that IGP Kayode Egbetokun got his appointment on merits, competences and patriotism against the malicious statement by one man NGO, HURIWA, that his tenured office was based on friendship and ethnic affiliation, the statement concluded.

SWYA Carpets Sahara Reporters Story As An Example Of Irresponsible Journalism

The South West Youth Alliance has lambasted the publisher of the serial blackmail, Sahara Reporters, and failed former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore over his reckless and dubious statement on the person of IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

Responding to a publication by Sahara Reporters titled “Sowore Lambasts Tinubu For Extending Kemi Nandap’s Tenure As Nigerian Immigration Boss, Says It’s Reward For Incompetence Just Like IGP Egbetokun,” the coordinator of the alliance, Taiwo Adegbenga, said that Sowore is out to tarnish the reputation of IGP Egbetokun by saying that “Kayode Egbetokun, as IGP of Nigeria Police Force, was murdering protesters and charging minors for treason.”

“We challenge the failed former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to show Nigerians the protesters “murdered by Kayode Egbetokun as IGP” or face legal action for this reckless and mischievous statement.

“Ensuring accurate and factual reporting is part of the code of ethics guiding the journalism profession anywhere in the world. But it’s quite unfortunate that Sahara Reporters do not regard this ethical standard, and this explains why the medium is filled with a myriad of unverified and baseless reports and fabrications.

“Laziness and irresponsibility of media organisations like Sahara Reporters will continue to murder the journalism profession in Nigeria. It is pathetic that a media outfit like Sahara Reporters could publish this kind of unverified” story—“Kayode Egbetokun, as IGP of the Nigeria Police Force, was murdering protesters and charging minors for treason.” This is irresponsible journalism at its peak.

“We therefore call on Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters to desist from dishing out baseless, unverified reports as well as stop misinforming and misleading the public, which are fast becoming their trademark.

Youth Alliance Criticises Sahara Reporters; Claims IGP Kayode Egbetokun Is Not Panicking

....Says there is no growing dissatisfaction among police personnel over Egbetokun's Leadership 

The Integrity Youth Alliance has blasted Sahara Reporters, an online medium known for mischievous publications, for saying that "pressure is mounting on President Bola Tinubu to remove the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, following growing dissatisfaction among police personnel over his leadership."

In a press release on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, in Kano, the Alliance's Director of Publicity, Danjuma Lamido, said police personnel do not grow dissatisfied with Egbetokun's leadership, as Sahara Reporters maliciously reported.

"We want to state without mincing words that IGP Egbetokun is not anxious about any situation. Sahara Reporters, known for his spiteful publication, is out again to cause disunity between IGP Egbetokun and DIG Idegwu Basil Okuoma.

"It is untrue that IGP Egbetokun has recently been experiencing health issues due to stress. The IGP is fit to face his duty as the Inspector General of Police.

"It is so unfortunate that Sahara Reporters could stoop so low to say "...he lives with only one kidney after facing a kidney-related problem years ago when he was a Chief Superintendent of Police."

"Since Sahara Reporters and its dubious owner, Omoyele Sowore, failed to defame IGP Egbetokun, another tactic is to say that "Tinubu is under immense pressure to replace Egbetokun, and this has left him panicking because his position as IGP is uncertain."

"IGP Egbetokun is fit and sound and attends several meetings, files, and courtesy visits daily. He is not having any challenges affecting his work schedule as mischievously reported by Sahara Reporters.

"We can state categorically that senior officers in the Nigeria Police Force have a very strong confidence in IGP Egbetokun's leadership. He has never disregarded any court orders concerning the retirement process as made believe by Sahara Reporters.

"It is not true that IGP Egbetokun intentionally delayed the probe of the retirement of senior officers in the Nigeria Police Force. Our organisation, Integrity Youth Alliance, wrote to the Police Service Commission in December 2024, as the PSC is saddled with the responsibilities of retiring senior officers of the force.

"On a final note, we wish to reiterate that IGP Kayode Egbetokun is not an "illegal" IGP as maliciously published by Sahara Reporters, and there is no growing lack of confidence in IGP Egbetokun's leadership among members of the Force. The entire Force is happy with the giant stride development and professionalism the IGP has brought about in the Force, the statement concluded.